Board of Directors

Bonnie Wardlaw is a Registered Nurse with 28 years in the specialty of Maternal/Fetal medicine, working at a Level 1 trauma center in Savannah, Georgia. She has also worked at Winn Army Community Hospital as a contract nurse during Operation Desert Shield and Storm. During this time, she saw first-hand the sacrifices made by our military and their families. From this experience, Bonnie gained a deep appreciation and gratitude for our men and women in uniform. Bonnie has a lifelong love of animals and their welfare. She is a consistent supporter of local animal non-profits. The opportunity to become involved with C4H is a great honor for her! In March of 2018, ‘bonnielou and Clifford’, began making dog leashes and bed covers to benefit C4H. Research and development is underway to start a pet care shampoo/grooming products brand that will also ‘give-back’. Preferring to be behind the scenes, Bonnie has volunteered her nursing skills at Union Mission in Savannah, Georgia., and JC Lewis health mission. Susan Komen race for the cure, Help the Hoo-Hahs, and Starfish Cafe-Gala committee are some past, favorite volunteer experiences. She is currently involved with ‘The Church adopts homeless camp number 1’ and will soon begin after school tutoring of children in her church neighborhood.

Joseph Kauper is a Marine Corps veteran with 20 years of combined experience in military and law enforcement. After exiting the Marine Corps at the rank of Sergeant he worked as a communications contractor for the US Army in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. After returning to the United States he served as a uniformed protection officer for the US Department of State at the US Mission to the United Nations in New York City. He joined the Port Authority Police Department in 2008 and currently serves as a member of the Emergency Services Unit. In 2011 Joseph founded The Harbor Site Foundation which assists military veterans and families who have made the transition to law enforcement. He has one daughter Cassandra and currently resides with his wife Khristina in New Jersey.

MAJ Daniel Merritt is the co-owner of Nine Line Apparel, a Veteran-Owned and Operated company that employs over 160 Veterans and Patriotic Americans. Nine Line Apparel was #31 on the INC 5000 fastest growing companies in the United States. Major Merritt is also the Co-founder of the Nine Line Foundation, a 100% Non Profit (501c3) that builds homes for severely disabled combat veterans.

He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2008 - February 2009 and deployed May 2, 2011 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

MAJ Merritt’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), the Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terror Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, NATO Service Ribbon, the Parachutist’s Badge, and Combat Action Badge.

Ms. Laura Seban is co-owner of Reliant Insurance Group located on St. Simons Island, Georgia that offers insurance for high net worth individuals, small – large businesses and Medicare Health Options. Prior to her role at Reliant Insurance Group, Laura was a Senior Chemist with Rich’s Food Products where she led other chemists in the Research & Development of all Rich’s Food Products. Laura is a past Advisor and Mentor for the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce and a current board member for the United Way of Southeast Georgia.

Mr. Byron Brown III is the Chairman of La-Z-Boy Southeast North America. Under Byron’s leadership, La-Z-Boy Southeast North America has received La-Z-Boy Top 10 Sales North America, La-Z-Boy Retail Partner of the Year, La-Z-Boy Ronald McDonald House Partner of the Year and the #1 Growth Store in North America. Byron is a member of the National La-Z-Boy Dealer Advisory Council. Prior to joining La-Z-Boy Southeast North America as CEO, Byron was the General Electric Retail Systems Partner of the Year. Byron is a board member, Lay Leader, Finance Committee member, Financial Advisor to Wesley Academy for Early Learning, Leader of Men’s Bible Study of Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica. Byron is an Eagle Scout. Byron resides on St. Simons Island, Georgia with his wife. He has children and grandchildren.

Mr. Julio P. Gonzalez founded the Gonzalez Family Office and is the Chairman, CEO and Founder of Engineered Tax Services, Inc. (ETS). ETS is the country’s largest specialty tax engineering firm which specializes in the preservation of wealth and the United States’ job creation through IRS engineering-based services to include research and development manufacturing tax credit and grant studies, energy tax incentives studies, cost segregation depreciation studies for buildings, Opportunity Zone studies, real estate state and local incentive studies and alternative tax optimization studies. Mr. Gonzalez started ETS in 2001 to bring specialized engineering tax studies to mainstream America, which have historically have only been available to Fortune 500 and public companies through then the Big 8 National Accounting Firms. ETS has 26 offices nationally and is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. In addition to ETS, Mr. Gonzalez started several other family operational companies including his family office, Gonzalez Family Office (GFO), Calle Gato Ocho (CGO), Engineered Tax Exchange (ETE) and Engineered Family Office (EFO). Gonzalez Family Office manages the Gonzalez family capital by investing primarily in real estate, private equity, and venture capital. CGO owns and operates direct real estate investments in multi-family housing and office/mixed-use real estate for the Gonzalez family. Mr. Gonzalez works weekly in Washington D.C. to work with the administration, Congress and Senate to advise on tax reform and is the go-to tax expert representing many national organizations and associations. He is a regular public speaker on a national level regarding tax reform and tax sophistication for wealth preservation.

Vic is a retired Managing Partner with the global consulting company Accenture. He also spent several years as an independent management consultant living and working in New York City. Vic’s consulting area of focus is advising and leading business transformational change programs for Fortune 500 companies, principally large financial services organizations. During his twenty-five years as an agent of change, he worked with market leaders to set strategic direction, design specific solutions to complex business problems and subsequently implement those solutions. Vic was recognized within Accenture for his development and leadership of individuals and high performance teams. Since Vic’s retirement, he continues to pursue a variety of business interests. He is actively engaged in several retail, commercial and personal interest entrepreneurial ventures. Vic has been, and remains active in volunteer and non-profit pursuits. He has been involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs for over twenty years as a member of several boards, Chairman of the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and the Georgia Area Council Chairman. Vic has also been named BGC Board Member of the Year for the state of Georgia and was awarded the National Silver Medallion. Vic also served on the Board of the Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta, the Mercer University Stetson School of Business and Economics Board of Visitors and the Executive Committee of the Frederica Academy Board of Trustees. Vic received his BBA in economics from Mercer University and his MBA in finance from Vanderbilt University. He is a member of the Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Vic currently lives part-time on St. Simons Island, Georgia and part-time in Atlanta, Georgia with his three children Rebecca, Alle and Victor.